In Maharashtra, the State Government yesterday further reduced the rates for RT-PCR tests conducted by private laboratories for COVID-19 following the testing kit production cost falling after easing of lockdown norms.<br />''<br />''According to the decision, the charges for picking test samples from collection sites have been reduced to 1,200 rupees from 1,900 rupees which was fixed last month. Collecting samples from kiosks, COVID-19 care centres, hospitals, clinics, quarantine centres of laboratories will now cost 1,600 rupees as against 2,200 rupees earlier. The government said that the fees for collecting patient samples from his/her residence, their transport, testing and reporting of samples has been slashed to 2,000 rupees from 2,500 rupees. The government said, the revised charges are inclusive of all taxes.<br />''<br />''The government took the step after a committee set up by it to decide the rates charged by private laboratories submitted its report.<br />